Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
By 1981 Amtrak had concrete ties on the NEC around Elkton MD and Northeast MD.
If you haven't already done so, typing "concrete ties" into the search box will come up with a lot of info.
The suggestion to have a concrete tie test section sounds like a pretty good idea. You could have a lot of officials standing there looking at it.
In the 1980's concrete ties would have been more of a "specialty" application. they would have been installed on territory with very high gross ton miles (lots of coal trains) or heavy rail wear (lots of sharp curves). They are good for high rail wear because you can change out the rail frequently without spike-killing the ties.
Dave H.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
I moved to south Florida around 1973 and to my surprise the Florida East Coast had a significant amount of concrete tie mainline. They must be quite heavy, they were hauled on bulkhead flats only about four of five tiers high. When the Western Pacific was merged into the Union Pacific in 1985, they began upgrading using a lot of concrete ties. A couple of things I noticed in both cases. Concrete and wood ties are never mixed, in other word it is a total change out to concrete, except for swicthes which are wood ties.
Hope this helps, Rob
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Texas Zepher wrote: kasskaboose wrote:Should I put it on part of the mainline of my 80s VA layout or return them and pay for shipping to get track w/ wooden ties? I don't know when concrete came into common useage, but as I recall the first time I saw concrete ties on a main line was in the 90s. Is there a hidden area where you could use the track or simply paint the concrete to a nice creasote brown?
kasskaboose wrote:Should I put it on part of the mainline of my 80s VA layout or return them and pay for shipping to get track w/ wooden ties?
My prototype began converting to concrete ties (and to welded, rather than jointed, rail) in the early 1960s. By the 1980s even secondary lines were laid with concrete ties.
If part of your main is in a wetlands area, that would be a logical place to look for concrete ties on the Atlantic Coast.
EDIT: Just Googled Norfolk and Western concrete ties. One hit went to a report on the secinfo.com website which gives a good overview of 'right now' Norfolk Southern railway maintenance practices. Apparently the use of concrete ties is considered somewhat experimental, being lumped in with steel and plastic (!) ties toward the bottom of the report. All the earlier photos show wood ties, even on new construction.
OTOH, the ORIGINAL Norfolk Southern laid a new branch with concrete ties in 1964. That road merged with SOU, and is now part NS, part other railways, part abandoned. Whether the cited branch still existed and was still laid with concrete ties in the 1980s, deponent saith not.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - partially on concrete ties)
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
I bought 15' of Code 83 flex track w/ concrete ties. Caboose hobbies is kind enough to return it, but after I pay for shipping. Wilson's book on tracklaying said that mainlines had concrete ties. Should I put it on part of the mainline of my 80s VA layout or return them and pay for shipping to get track w/ wooden ties? Yes, I know it's my layout, but wanted to have it somewhat realistic. I will have the rest of the layout w/ wooden ties.
Best,
Lee